Dispensing apparatus for sheet material



R. G. BIRR DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL Dec. 28, 1948.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1944 Dec. 28, 1948. V 2,457,439

I DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i g 70y R. G. BIRR DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL Dec. 28, 1948.

5 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 14, 1944 Dec. 28, 1948. R. G. BlRR ,4

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 14, 1944 I v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. G. BlRR DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL Dec. 28,1948.

Filed July 14, 1944 Patented Dec. 28, 1948 DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL Rudolph G. Birr, Lombard, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Linen Supply 00., Carson City, Nev., a corporation of Nevada Application July 14, 1944, Serial No. 544,919

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing apparatus and has among its objects; to provide a cabinet having a large capacity for the material to be dispensed, in this specific case the capacity to handle an unusually large roll of sheet material to be dispensed.

To understand the need and advantages of this invention in relation to astop mechanism, it should be noted that in dispensing material from a roll the dispensing act is rapid and stopping action is abrupt. The supply roll is given a momentum which continues after the stop engages. Moreover, the larger the roll the greater the momentum given to the roll during dispensing. But it is desirable to use the largest possible supply roll so that replenishment of supply will have to be less frequent. Particularly in cases where the force for operating the dispensing mechanism is transmitted through the paper to the measuring roll, the paper is under strain and may break before the dispensing act has been completed if the supply roll is not mounted for free rotation, and therefore prevented from adding its friction load to that of the other mechanism. Therefore, means is provided herein controlled by the stop mechanism for allowing free rotation of the roll until dispensing is substantially completed and substantially until the stop engages, but preventing continued rotation of the supply roll when the stop is engaged. The action of the device herein, therefore, only prevents overrun due to momentum of the supply roll incident on stop engagement.

Other objects are to provide an improved-stop mechanism controlled by and controlling a measuring roll or equivalent means by which sheet material is dispensed; to operate such a brake mechanism through a part of a stop mechanism; to operate a time-stop mechanism which includes linkage elements and to connect with these linkage elements a lever which operates a brake when the stop is operated by the act of dispensing, to set the time stop; to provide a dial and ratchet mechanism by which the time stop can be set against the action of a spring which is adapted to automatically dispense sheet material on release of the stop; and to provide a cheap way of utilizing corrugations as means for forming a tearofi knife for paper. Features of the invention include: all details of the construction shown, along with various combinations and subcombinations of the structures, and the broader means inherent in the disclosure.

Objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description of the drawings forming a part of this disclosure, and in said drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cabinet looking at the dial side, and showing in dotted lines the cover as positioned to support the supply roll during servicing;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the cabinet looking at the outer face of one of the supporting plates and showing the stop and brake mechanisms with the parts in their normal or released position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in stopping and braking positions;

Fig. 4 is a detail, horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with the brake released;

Fig. 5 is a detail, horizontal section on line 55 of Fig. 3 with the brake set;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken between the supporting plates showing the bearing structure for'the stop-carrying gear, and showing the relation of feed rollsand the relations of the corrugated tearofi knife to the paper as trained over the measuring roll;

Fig. 7 is a detail, horizontal section on line 'l-'! of Fig. 2 showing a retracting spring for the brake elements;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan showing the relation of the corrugated tearoff knifeto the delivery throat;

Fig. 9 is a detail, vertical section on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 showing the supporting plates, supply roll and the brake mechanism; and

,Fig. 10 is a detail, horizontal section on line l0l0 of Fig. 2, showing the novel bearings for the gears.

The cabinet proper, in addition to the novel braking and stop mechanism, has certain details of construction which are features of this invention. The cabinet is composed of an inner section or body and an outer section or cover. The inner section is formed from a single sheet of metal bent to provide the vertical back i, and the horizontal bottom 2. Secured to and stiffening the back and bottom are two mechanismsupporting plates 3, 4 by which substantially all of the mechanism of the cabinet is carried. Each of these plates is provided with three stiffening flanges 5, 6, 1. Flanges 5 and E are connected by screws to the back and the bottom, andthe plates with their flanges thus stiffen the structure.

In each supporting plate is a downwardly extending slot It] made wider at the top as at II. These slots intersect the top flanges I as best shown at l2 in Figs. 6 and 9. By enlarging the The body or inner section is constructedi-n a wardpull ancl be torn o'fii forming them by pressing the metal of the cover itself, the arrangement is such that the lower edges of the corrugations form a serrated knife edge. These corrugations intersect the bottom edge of 43 or of M, and against the serrations thus formed the paper can be drawn by a for- Now referring to Fig. li -w h is a" bottom plan view of the cabinet, it will be noted'that the knife edge formed by the corrugations is curved as at 4.8. in relation to the straight apron 40. It

manner heretofore mentioned, but the top, front and sides of the device are provided by a onepiece cover I1, and this cover is pivoted near its lower edge and about midway between its front and back to brackets or plates l8 which are' secured to the top faces of the bottom. flanges 6.

These brackets exof the supporting plates t. tend outwardly beyond the flanges 6 and. have vertical flanges i 9 having openings which receive the pivots an of the cover, which may be threaded bolts. The cover can be formed one piece as a stamping.

On the back of the cabinet or on the inner section is a top flange having bent downwardly therefrom another flange 22 which acts as a keeper to be engaged by a suitable hook-like locking member- 23 of a suitable key operated lock of the cover. suitable slots (not-shown): are provided in the back i-by which the: cabinet can be hung on a wall. The cover can-be moved downwardly to a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to act as a support for the supply roll 25 while the paper is being threaded between the feeding rolls of the device.

The supporting plates 3. and. ii. are cross=connected at the front by a. bar 26* Be low thisbar are arranged thewfeed. roll-s; Oneof these rolls (see Fig. 6) is "a. measuring roll 29. A presser roll 3%) lies above the measuring roll and is. yield'ably pressed against the 'measuring roll by springs 31. This presser roll 31} iszree duced in diameter as at 33 to facilitate, by grasp ing action of fingers placed this reduced. portion, the preliminary introduction of. paper for:- wardly between the rolls while the supply rah-25 isbeing supported. by the cover H when in the dotted-line position of Fig. 1. The measuring roll is grooved as at 35 to receive fingers 3G are integral with an upturned front portion 34 hold the paper 4| spaced rearwardly of a-tearofi knife on the bottom of the cover, to facilitate introduction of the fingers for grasping; the paper. The specific formation of this knife is a feature, because of its cheap-mess and efiiciency.

The manner of forming the knifeby means of corrugations is believed to benew and to provide a cheap method of manufacture. The feature is that a toothed tearoff knife is formed by the-ends of corrugations. A feature shown is a corrugated strip 133 of metal attached to the inner surface of a forwardly, downwarrzlly slanted porw tion it of the bottom of the front wall 4:5 of the cover ii. The lower ends or corners 46 of'th-e corrugations form a serrated edge. The useof such a strip is cheaper than corrugati'ng the metal of the cover by a stamping processg'because such a process involves the making "of expensive dies. However these corrugations may be formed, whether byattaching a separate corrugated piece as shown in the dr'awin gs,:or-by 5 .isto be understood that the invention is not entirely limited to this curved relation, because the tearoff -knife may be a straight edge.

/ Anotherfeature of this invention is the use of an emergencydi'al- 50 having fingers 51 which are adapted-tomroject outwardly through a slot 52 of the cover H as shown in Fig. 1. The purpose of the dial is to permit manual operation to preliminarily feed the paper to the position of Fig. 6, at which it can be grasped by the user. Ordinarily this disk is .only'nsed preliminarily to condition the cabinett'orrts first. use. .It may be considered as an emergency feeding means. This disk isattached. to the shaft 53' of the measuring roll 29. Anotherfeature of the inventi'on is the. arrangement. on shaft, 53; and between dial 5!] and the outer surfaceof the supporting plate]; of a relatively f ne-toothed ratchet-wheelii held againstmotion in one direction: by a pawl ifisuitably pivoted to plate 4 This fineetoothed, pawl-controlled. wheel 55 facilitates. dial feeding action against .the force of certain springsllater described, being understood thatthisenrergencyfeedout action is opstop mechanism and the brake. These gears and their related elements are mounted on the supporting; plate 3 ofwthe inner; unit. The shaft .53 of the measuring rollpasses outwardly through a struck-rout bearing 51- of the plate 3 and; the

outer end of the -shaft,.-is reduced in diameter to.

receive aHsmal-l spur neare -58 and to provide a shoulder, againstwhich this small gear isforced andsecured as by peening. over. This reduced portion 7 59 may be squared. A large gear 60 meshes with the smal-lgea-r and carries the stop 61 secured by screws 62 to the gear 611. The gear 60 is attached to r educedand squared portion 63 of a shaft 64; which has, one end rotative in a punched-,outbearing; $5 of the .plate. 3;, and which has its otherend =65 reduced and rotative in a U-shaped bracket 61. Extensions 68 of the bracket are; connectedito the plate as by screws 69. The 'gearfiflis held to the, shaft 64 by means of a suitable .screw 70; and the shaft 64- .is held against axial translation -by. means of a washer interposed between "the end of the bracket portion tl-"and a splitkey Fin-I The stop. Si, is held to the gear 60 by the screws 62 as shown in Figs. 2 and i3, and this stophasanopening E2 to receive-the head'of the screw lii. .A rugged bearing is thus provided for the; stop-carryinggearwhich is submitted-to sudden strains. duetodmpacts of the stops to limit dispensingaction.

. -Wit'hthis constnuction, assembly of the-parts is facilitated. .The shaft Mgcan be-merely inserted into itsybearmgspthelarge gear 60' can then be placedwonthe reduced portion andth-e screw 10- applied. Asto the smallgear- 58, it; can be placed-on its; squared: rmrtienv .and secured-by peening, either before or afterthe large gear is applied. Preferably, the stop 6| of the large gear is attached to the gear before the gear itself is secured to its shaft. 8

The stop carries a pin 14 which passes through a slot 15 of a timer-setting link I6. A clip to which one end of the automatic feedout spring I! is attached is releasably secured to the pin 14', a Washer 18 being inserted between this clip and the link 16.

The stop BI is engageable with a stop shoulder 88 (see Fig. 3) to limit the motion of the measuring roll. The stop shoulder 88 is formed on a stop lever 8| pivoted as at 82 to a punched-out projection of the plate 3, which projection spaces the inner surface of the lever from the face of the plate. The lever is of the first class, providing an arm at each side of the pivot 82. A detachable pivot 83 on one arm of the lever passes through the slotted link I8 and through a second short link 84. The link 84 is pivoted as at 85 to a slide plate 86 of a timer mechanism. This plate is out out centrally as at 8'! and has at its top an inwardly extending slot 88. A guide screw 89 passes through the slot as shown. A bracket 98 engages the sides of the opening 81 and forms a second guide for the slide 86. The slide is held against movement away from the face of the plate 3 by means of a horizontal shelf portion 9| which is of greater width than the width of the opening 81. On the shelf is mounted a vacuum cup 92, the entry of air into which is controlled through an opening 93 controlled by a screw which can be adjusted by the finger piece 95. Cooperative with the cup 92 is a second cup 96 carried by horizontal bracket 91 of the slide 88. A spring 98 connects at one end with the lever 8| and the other end is secured to the plate 3 as shown. This spring assists in mov-'- ing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2 following the release of the stops, as will be more fully explained. The elements 8I, I6 and 84, are connected by a common pivot 83. The pin 83 so connects the lever M with the link 16 as to synchronize brake operation with stop operation. The lever 8| is a stop as well as a brake-controlling element.

A very important feature of this invention is the means provided for preventing unwanted spinning of a rotatable supply roll following the engagement of the stop. I believe myself the first to use a device of this kind in relation to a stop mechanism and a supply roll and thereby to make possible the use of a larger supply roll. It will be understood that in devices of this kind where the supply roll must be rotatably supported there has always heretofore been the objection that the paper unrolls unduly after the stops engage following dispensing. The sudden engagement of the stop, leaves the supply roll in spinning condition which in prior devices continued after the stop mechanism was set, often filling the cabinet with unrolled paper. The result is that the paper either jams part of the mechanism or does not feed evenly. It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome these objections by automatically preventing spinning of the roll, yet leaving the roll free for rotation until the stop engages. a

In this embodiment yieldable means has been provided which engages one of the end surfaces of the roll, the roll being disposed between the supporting plates 3 and 4 and between two brake plates, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable. While all details of con- 6 struction are believed new and are herein claimed, I believe it broadly new to provide any means for stopping spinning under the conditions met inthe dispensing of paper from a rotatable roll, either by means of a stop mechanism only, or by means of a time-stop mechanism or when using an automatic feed, or otherwise. It is conceivable that the present invention may be applied in any case where, when the paper from a rotatable supply roll moves in dispensing direction it can operate a brake mechanism to prevent overrotation of the supply roll after the stop is set, and which becomes operative as a result of pulling or dispensing of the paper, and remains operative while the stop is engaged. A feature herein is that my device can be applied to automatic as well as manual dispensing.

Now referring to Fig. 9. The roll of paper is mounted'between the plates 3 and 4 on the bar I5 having the trunnions I4 engaged in the slots I8. Referring also to Fig. 6. On the inner wall of the supporting plate 4 is a relatively broa st tionary plate 98 and on the inner side of the supporting plate 3 is a second relatively narrow plate I88 which is movable from an inoperative position shown in Figs. 9, 4 and 7 to the operative position shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 5 the supply roll is being yieldably forced against the plate 89 of Figs. 9 and 6. This movable plate I88 is provided with two studs IIlI which are threaded into it and which pass loosely through openings I82 of the supporting plate 3. Slidable on the studs IIJI is a plate I 85 and this plate is normally held as in Fig. 9 against the heads of the screws I8I as shoulders, by means of two compression springs I86. Both of the plates I88 and I85 are moved to and held in release position by means of a spring I81 (see also Fig. 7) which engages the inner side of the plate I85. Attached asby suitable threads and a nut to the plate 3 is a stud I88 centrally arranged between the studs I8I and between the springs I88. This stud passes loosely through an opening I89 in the plate I85 and has rotatable and slidable thereon a cam generally indicated I I8. This cam is provided with two curved arms III struck out from opposite sides of its body, and these two arms normally lie as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 in notches H2 formed in the lateral, vertical edges of the plate I85. The lower side of one, and the upper side of the other, of these notches is bevelled at about the same inclination as the inclination of the curved arms in their relation to the plane of the body of the cam, these bevelled portions being indicated at H3. The cam II8-has an arm II5 :to which is pivoted as at II-6 a link I IT, in turn pivoted at II8 to one of the arms of the lever BI. The cam II8 normally engages a shoulder formed by the head of the stud I88 and reaction between this shoulder-and the plate I85 occurs when the cam is rotated from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3, to set the clamp plate as in Fig. 5.

This rotation causes the plate I85 to move inwardly and to compress the springs I86, which in turn move the plate I88 to its clamping position. At the same time the spring I81 is put under greater compression between the plate I85 and the supporting plate 3. On return of the cam to the initial position shown in Fig, 2, the spring I81 moves both plates again to the position shown in Fig. 9 and the springs I86 become correspondingly decompressed to assume their initial posi tion in that figure. When pressure is applied by theplatevlllfl, the supply roll is moved slightly the paper 4: ready to be grasped by the user and pulled out. When the operator pulls on the paper the measuring roll and. its gear. 58 are moved in clockwise direction, the large gear Bil and. its stop 61 are moved in counter-clockwise direction, the pin 74 acting on the link 1'6 pulls. the stop .80 into the path of stop BI, and as this motion continues the stops assume the stopping position as shown in Fig. 3. Upward movement oithe stop an is .prevented by the timer. During this act of dispensing the link at has moved the slide dfi downwardly and the cup 96 has become .vacuu'me attached to the cup 92 as shown in Fig. 3 and timing begins. The link 84 is connected to SI and 86, and upward motion of 86 is prevented by the cups. Motion of the stoptfl to stopping position moves the link i ll to correspondingly move the cam Hi! to the position of Fig. 3 to cause clamping action as shown in Fig. 5. .At the same time the spring: Tl (see. Fig. 2 is put under tensionwith the pin It in the position-shown in Fig. 3. On release of the stops t! and, dilby the timer, spring l-T acts to bring the pin M from the position in Fig. 3 to the position in Fig. 2' to automatically eject another length of the toweling to a position to be grasped by the user :as in Fig.

It is also against the action of this spring 1.1 that the force applied to the dial 5!) mustact. The pawl holds the dial 58 against the reverse action of this spring during .a portion of the d-ispens'rng action. In fact, the force applied to the dial acts against both springs H and 98, but only untilthe pin '14 arrives at a position substantially diametrically "opposite to the position in which it is shown in Fig; 2-. ,Afterit has reached such a diametric position the spring T! acts to force the stop 6! against the stop as. Therefore, for this portion of the feeding cycle, the dial 5B is not needed, in those cases where automatic feeding is used.

As the stop 813 begins to move downwardly into the stopping path of stop 6!, the lever 8|- operates the link I ll, moving it upwardly and moving the .cam H8 in clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 3 to eventually cause application of the brake before the'stops 6|, 8i] engage; It will benoted in Fig. 9 that the plate I00 isinitial'ly spaced from the end of the supply roll that the rotation of a large supply roll can be more easily started. The brake cams gradually apply pressure through the plate ms andsprings 1:06, tozth-e plate 10!] so that supply roll rotation will be stopped just before or just as the stop engages. In any event, overrun of the supply roll prevented just beiore or as soon as the stop engages. What I claim is: 1. A dispensing device comprising a measuring roll, a stop mechanism controlled byand controlling said roll, a supply roll of paper freely rotatable on a support, means for exerting a. braking pressure on saidroll, and means operated through is set. thesaid braking pressure means, being adapted to relieve the pressin'c the stop mechanism. is. released.

2. A dispensing cabinet comprising a pair ofv journal plates a support held by journal plates andhaving a. supply roll. freely, rotatable thereon, a first plate on-,..the inner side oi'one of said journalplatesiand engageable with. one end of said roll to resist itsrotation, a second plate on the outer side of said journal plate, means onthe first platestidably supporting the second plate, resilient means normally aotingon said firs-tend second piatesto keep the inn r plate out (ofv 161-1:-

gagement with said supply rol-hgresilient. means acting to hold the second plate spaced iromithe first plate; a. dispensing mechanism, and means operable Joy saiddispensing mechanism during dispensing tor .moving, saidsecond plate-against the actionocf said resilient means to cause the innerzplate toengage the: end of said roll as a brake, i

o, A device or the; class described-comprising a pair. of: supports, a supply roll rotatabl-y -supported on and between ,said supports, a first clamping pl ate between the supports and adapted to engagethe end of the rolLa second plate: at the opposite side of one of V the supports, springs between the plates passing throughthe sup-Port and compressible during clamping action, means connecting the plates to be moved simultaneously away from clam-ping position, a spring for obtaining tsuch movement, and a cam adapted on rotation 1101; act against the second plate and againstthe action of all springsto move thoiirst plateto, clamping. position 4. .Adevioc of theQcla-ss described, comprising a pair of supports, .a supply roll rotatabl'y' supported onand between said; supports, a. first clamping plate between the; supports and adapted toengageythc .end oi? the roll, a second'plate at theaway-from clamping posit-ion, .a-spring tor obtaming: such movement, a cam adapted on rota-'- tion to act against the second plate and against the action of all springsto move the-first plate to clamping position, means. for dispensingma terial from said supply roll, and means operable by said dispensing. means to operate the cam to cause-clamping action'betw-een the first plate and the supply roll during dispensing... i

.5. Adev-iceoi the class described, comprisinga lever :of the. firstyclass, the first .armot-which has a stop shoulder constituting a first stop, a supply roll .rotat-ablyv supported, a brake mechanism adapted toyieldably hold the supply roll against overrotation, a, connecting with the second arm otthelewerand adapted to operate the brake mechanism-toset the brake-when the lever is'moved tostopping position, a second step operated by a dispensingroll, and. means operable by the second stop tomove the lever to stopping position and then condition the lever for automaticgmovementz away from stopping position, and. tor automatically moving the love away from such position. I 6. A device for dispensing sheet material comprising, a supply roll supported for free rotation about its axis, a measuring-roll operable by movementof the material thereagainst, a stop mechanism'controlled by and controlling s-a-id meas-uri-ng grol-l, including. a stopwhich suddenly engages tags-top movement of, the material, jbralserneans adapted to yieldably resist rotation of the supply roll, and means controlled by the stop as it moves toward stopping position for operating said brake means to resist supply roll rotation after stop engagement and for releasing said brake means to again permit free rotation of the roll after said stop releases.

7. A device for dispensing sheet material comprising, a supply roll supported for free rotation about its axis, a measuring roll operatively related to the supply roll, first and second meshing gears, the first attached to the measuring roll and the second having a first stop, a pivoted second stop, means for automatically moving the second stop toward and away from the first stop, brake means adapted to yieldably resist rotation of the supply roll, and means controlled by the second stop as it moves toward stopping position for operating said brake means to resist supply roll rotation and for subsequently permitting free rotation of the supply roll as the second stop moves away from-the first.

8. A device for dispensing sheet material comprising, a supply roll supported for free rotation about its axis, a measuring roll operatively related to the supply roll, a stop mechanism, a timer controlled by and controlling the stop mechanism, brake means adapted to yieldably resist rotation of the supply roll, means by which the stop mechanism controls and is controlled by the timer, and means operable by the last mentioned means for operating said brake means to resist supply roll rotation as the stop and timer are set and for releasing said brake means as the stop is released.

9. A device of the class described having a mechanism for dispensing sheet material including a measuring roll, a supply roll of sheet material operatively positioned in relation to said measuring roll, a first spur gear operated by the measuring roll, the second spur gear driven by the first gear and having a first stop, a second stop engageable with the first stop, a timer, means by which the second gear operates the second stop and the timer, including a link pivoted to the second stop and the timer and a link pivoted to the second gear and the second stop, a brake member yieldably engageable with the supply roll, a cam for moving said brake member into engagement with the supply roll, and means by which the second stop operates said cam to cause application of the brake when the stop is engaged and to release said brake when the stop is disengaged.

RUDOLPH G. BIRR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 329,200 Morrison et al Oct. 27, 1885 764,806 Ham July 12, 1904 943,279 Smith Dec. 14, 1909 1,197,039 Krauth Sept. 5, 1916 1,324,019 Ariuchi Dec. 2, 1919 1,907,760 Egger May 9, 1933 1,952,196 Coil Mar. 27, 1934 2,181,826 Wooster Nov. 28, 1939 2,186,798 Birr Jan. 9, 1940 2,193,589 Greenwald Mar. 12, 1940 2,224,572 Harvey Dec. 10, 1940 2,243,686 Steiner et a1. May 27, 1941 2,367,200 Cooper Jan. 16, 1945 2,367,202 Cooper Jan. 16, 1945 2,369,851 Price et a1. Feb. 20, 1945 

